Question about tires...I have two 2002 Explorers

[relgro]

One is my daily driver and the other doesn't run and I use it for parts. Today I took the tires(with rims) off the broken explorer and put them on my running explorer because the one set of stock rims is nicer than the other set of stock rims. So my running explorer now has the nicer set of rims and the ugly rims are now on the broken explorer. In other words I switched out all 4 tires between the two vehicles.

What needs to be done now, do I need an alignment or do I need to get the tires balanced again, or both? I feel like the tires should already be balanced and that doesn't change in taking them off one vehicle and putting them on another..but now my explorer shakes/vibrates when driving with the new tires/rims and just doesn't feel smooth. So I feel something else has to be done(at a tire shop). I did not notice any po pulling to one side or another on my test drive.

 

[J_C]

No, switching tires will not change the alignment. If the tires were balanced previously and wore evenly, this swap will not cause a rebalancing to need done either.

Since it shakes/vibrates, I would try to figure out of you can determine which wheel it's coming from, swapping the wheels to different positions if that might help locate the suspect wheel.

Are the tires on both explorers the same size? If so, or nearly the same actual circumference, you could swap one old wheel at a time back onto the running explorer to see which swap makes the difference, then have a shop inspect (in case it's bent) and balance that one suspect wheel instead of all 4.

I assume you carefully inspected the tires for uneven wear.

 

[Stynx]

Yeah either worn or need balancing. Also there will be issues with the TPMS. Take it to a tire shop, tell them what you did and ask them to fix it?

 

[Motorhogman]

How long were the tires on the parts truck sitting ? Maybe they have developed flat spots on them ? Also double check that the wheels are all seated properly on the hubs. as said above, if they were previously balanced it shouldn't matter what vehicle they are on and alignment should not be a factor either.

 

[relgro]

Yeah either worn or need balancing. Also there will be issues with the TPMS. Take it to a tire shop, tell them what you did and ask them to fix it?

Since my OP, I replaced the tie rods, had an alignment done, and then got the tires balanced yesterday and it still feels the exact same as before I did all that. I don't know if now I'm way over thinking it and harping on something that was always there...but I really don't think so. We all know these 3rd gen explorers aren't the smoothest ride out there and you feel every little bump but this is consistent back and forth side to side chatter when I get up to around 35-40mph and above. It's not in the steering wheel at all, it's all in my seat/the vehicle itself. The tires are fine, even though they'd been sitting a couple years they're fairly new with good tread and no uneven wear. It just doesn't make any sense to me, it should feel normal again after doing all I've done, wtf??

I'm planning to go back to the alignment place after the holidays and have them take a look at the alignment again, but I'm not optimistic. Other thing I could do is just try putting the old tires back on and see what it feels like, but that takes a fair amount of effort as I have nothing to let the old explorer rest on so I'd have to jack(on soft pine straw) and switch each of the tires one at a time...I guess that could help me narrow down a tire if I road test between each one, but I swear the tires are good. I mean the guys that balanced them would've noticed if one wasn't I would think.

 

[relgro]

How long were the tires on the parts truck sitting ? Maybe they have developed flat spots on them ? Also double check that the wheels are all seated properly on the hubs. as said above, if they were previously balanced it shouldn't matter what vehicle they are on and alignment should not be a factor either.

I parked it in like Sept 2020. Could these flat spots not be noticeable to the naked eye, or not noticeable during the rebalancing? None of them had gone completely flat either, each of them were still holding about 22psi.

 

[Motorhogman]

Since my OP, I replaced the tie rods, had an alignment done, and then got the tires balanced yesterday and it still feels the exact same as before I did all that. I don't know if now I'm way over thinking it and harping on something that was always there...but I really don't think so. We all know these 3rd gen explorers aren't the smoothest ride out there and you feel every little bump but this is consistent back and forth side to side chatter when I get up to around 35-40mph and above. It's not in the steering wheel at all, it's all in my seat/the vehicle itself. The tires are fine, even though they'd been sitting a couple years they're fairly new with good tread and no uneven wear. It just doesn't make any sense to me, it should feel normal again after doing all I've done, wtf??

I'm planning to go back to the alignment place after the holidays and have them take a look at the alignment again, but I'm not optimistic. Other thing I could do is just try putting the old tires back on and see what it feels like, but that takes a fair amount of effort as I have nothing to let the old explorer rest on so I'd have to jack(on soft pine straw) and switch each of the tires one at a time...I guess that could help me narrow down a tire if I road test between each one, but I swear the tires are good. I mean the guys that balanced them would've noticed if one wasn't I would think.

Alignment will not cause the problem you are describing. Now you know the balance is good. Yes, you would expect a decent mechanic would notice a problem. Here's a suggestion, yes a pita and a lot of work. ( I use a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood to stabilize the jack surface. )Try changing back to one old wheel at a time. Swap and road test after each swap. Personal experience the tires on my 2000 sport were replaced under warranty with the Firestone fiasco. They put nice Michelins on it. Replaced them after 100, 000 mi. Tread was still great, sidewalls weather cracked. Replaced them with Uniroyals. Feel every bump in the road with these. Noticed it the first mile I drove away from the tire store. Saved a couple of hundred dollars by going with them but sacrificed ride. Not really a big deal as this truck doesn't even run a thousand miles a year these days.

 

[Motorhogman]

I parked it in like Sept 2020. Could these flat spots not be noticeable to the naked eye, or not noticeable during the rebalancing? None of them had gone completely flat either, each of them were still holding about 22psi.

Yes, I would hope a mechanic qualified to balance tires would notice a flat spot.

 

[Motorhogman]

Since my OP, I replaced the tie rods, had an alignment done, and then got the tires balanced yesterday and it still feels the exact same as before I did all that. I don't know if now I'm way over thinking it and harping on something that was always there...but I really don't think so. We all know these 3rd gen explorers aren't the smoothest ride out there and you feel every little bump but this is consistent back and forth side to side chatter when I get up to around 35-40mph and above. It's not in the steering wheel at all, it's all in my seat/the vehicle itself. The tires are fine, even though they'd been sitting a couple years they're fairly new with good tread and no uneven wear. It just doesn't make any sense to me, it should feel normal again after doing all I've done, wtf??

I'm planning to go back to the alignment place after the holidays and have them take a look at the alignment again, but I'm not optimistic. Other thing I could do is just try putting the old tires back on and see what it feels like, but that takes a fair amount of effort as I have nothing to let the old explorer rest on so I'd have to jack(on soft pine straw) and switch each of the tires one at a time...I guess that could help me narrow down a tire if I road test between each one, but I swear the tires are good. I mean the guys that balanced them would've noticed if one wasn't I would think.

Just reread your post.. " side to side chatter". That makes me think a ply or cord separation. If your tire mech is experienced they should have seen that.. Just a thought.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Did they take a lot of weight to balance? What’s the date code on the side? How long did they sit? Were they low on air on the junk truck?

What company did the balancing?

 

[relgro]

Did they take a lot of weight to balance? What’s the date code on the side? How long did they sit? Were they low on air on the junk truck?

What company did the balancing?

They barely moved the weights at all except for one tire it got moved about a quarter tire or 90 degrees from where it was previously. The others were basically still within the imprint of the old weight. Not 100% certain on each one, but I know at least one weight was changed to a different weight. Like one was a 1.25 gram and was replaced with a 1 gram or vice versa.

Don't see a date.

Sat since Sep 2020 and only deflated in that time to about 22 psi.

Company that balanced is not a large chain but a local place.

So how about this....just now when looking for a date, I noticed that one of the weights is gone. The one that got moved 90 degrees from where it was already fell off so I bet that's not helping the issue! I've only driven it probably less than 10 miles since it was installed.

 

[relgro]

Just reread your post.. " side to side chatter". That makes me think a ply or cord separation. If your tire mech is experienced they should have seen that.. Just a thought.

Maybe side to side isn't the best description, it's like a rumble I guess. Like if you were cold and shivering.

I like your line of thought that maybe the tires just aren't as nice and more sensitive to road bumps, could be contributing to it I reckon. They weren't terribly expensive, think I got them all done for less than $600. Hercules tires.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Discount Tire | Tires and Wheels for Sale | Online & In-Person

www.discounttire.com

 

[Mbrooks420]

The thrown weight obviously needs replaced with a new one before more troubleshooting. I assume it’d be free.

 

[relgro]

Planning to get the weight that fell off re-installed and then see. If it's still not fixed, then I'll start switching the tires back one at a time and see what that does. Unfortunately I'm not going to have the time to do that for a couple weeks probably. The wife's about had it with me being outside tinkering with it during the holiday haha

 

[relgro]

Discount Tire | Tires and Wheels for Sale | Online & In-Person

www.discounttire.com

Not exact same orientation, but I think the indication is the tires were manufactured in 2012

I found the receipt and I bought them in June 2017 so they have just over 3 years put on them at less than 10k a year.

 

[relgro]

Actually they only have less than 15k total miles because I just saw my odometer in was 185,664 and I know that truck didn't get over 200k before the tranny went out.

 

[Mbrooks420]

If there’s a 4 digit code on them it’s almost certainly the date. The x.. info isn’t always next to the date.

 

[Motorhogman]

If there’s a 4 digit code on them it’s almost certainly the date. The x.. info isn’t always next to the date.

Interesting.. I've never seen a date code on tires with anything other than the (1016) week of the year and year indicated. Thanks for posting that. Always learning..

 

[Mbrooks420]

Interesting.. I've never seen a date code on tires with anything other than the (1016) week of the year and year indicated. Thanks for posting that. Always learning..

I think that is the most common.